Fresh Beatz
Draper - Night Rider (feat Phoebe Ray)
By: Anand Harsh
Fans of Mad Men will be thrilled to discover there's a new Draper on the block. Just as mysterious and creative as the 60's era ad executive we've come to know and love, Monstercat's Draper is a young gun out of the UK with a number of remix contest wins and high-profile gigs under his belt (including a set in front of a sold-out Wembley Stadium with only his sixth live performance). "Night Rider" featuring Phoebe Ray transcends the dubstep or chillstep sounds that brought him to prominence. Taking a Zedd-like warbling synth into a breakbeat territory, Draper reinvents BPM innovation with a dazzling array of drops and shifts. Melody carries throughout, on the backs of Phoebe's vocals and some amazing production work. Draper is an artist to watch in 2013.
Fans of Mad Men will be thrilled to discover there's a new Draper on the block. Just as mysterious and creative as the 60's era ad executive we've come to know and love, Monstercat's Draper is a young gun out of the UK with a number of remix contest wins and high-profile gigs under his belt (including a set in front of a sold-out Wembley Stadium with only his sixth live performance). "Night Rider" featuring Phoebe Ray transcends the dubstep or chillstep sounds that brought him to prominence. Taking a Zedd-like warbling synth into a breakbeat territory, Draper reinvents BPM innovation with a dazzling array of drops and shifts. Melody carries throughout, on the backs of Phoebe's vocals and some amazing production work. Draper is an artist to watch in 2013.
Savant - Vario 64
By: Anand Harsh
Looking to cure that eggnog hangover? The new one from Savant should kick your ass back into place. Aleksander Vinter is a prolific young producer from Norway. And prolific is really an understatement, as he's got 10,000 songs under his belt, from classical and hip-hop, to metal and most notably dubstep. Battling a smidge of mental malaise, Vinter actually uses his Asperger's and ADD diagnosis to his advantage by developing these lush productions in his head and ripping through them within a matter of hours. "Vario 64" obviously has it's roots in the adventure-filled lives of a couple of Italian plumbers. Bit-crushed chiptune runs clash with deafening drops that always carry a unique melody. If you like what you hear, there's plenty more where that came from.
Looking to cure that eggnog hangover? The new one from Savant should kick your ass back into place. Aleksander Vinter is a prolific young producer from Norway. And prolific is really an understatement, as he's got 10,000 songs under his belt, from classical and hip-hop, to metal and most notably dubstep. Battling a smidge of mental malaise, Vinter actually uses his Asperger's and ADD diagnosis to his advantage by developing these lush productions in his head and ripping through them within a matter of hours. "Vario 64" obviously has it's roots in the adventure-filled lives of a couple of Italian plumbers. Bit-crushed chiptune runs clash with deafening drops that always carry a unique melody. If you like what you hear, there's plenty more where that came from.
Varien - Lilith
By: Anand Harsh
Here's wishing you a Creepy Christmas! Production prodigy Varien is back with a brand new descent into the macabre. Think Nightmare Before Christmas meets the Saw movies. "Lilith" is a ghoulish composition highlighting Nick Pittsinger's dedication to big, bad orchestral sounds. The 22-year-old producer first gained attention with his symphonic renderings of Skrillex tunes, but has moved into crafting these lush, large-scale haunting opuses with a completely unique feel. Pittsinger is already an accomplished video game music producer, which comes as no surprise if you're familiar with his catalog. "Lilith" is gorgeous, but those drops are dangerous. For those tired of the "ho-ho-ho-ing" and all the mistletoe-ing, retreat to your cavernous lair and dive into Varien.
Here's wishing you a Creepy Christmas! Production prodigy Varien is back with a brand new descent into the macabre. Think Nightmare Before Christmas meets the Saw movies. "Lilith" is a ghoulish composition highlighting Nick Pittsinger's dedication to big, bad orchestral sounds. The 22-year-old producer first gained attention with his symphonic renderings of Skrillex tunes, but has moved into crafting these lush, large-scale haunting opuses with a completely unique feel. Pittsinger is already an accomplished video game music producer, which comes as no surprise if you're familiar with his catalog. "Lilith" is gorgeous, but those drops are dangerous. For those tired of the "ho-ho-ho-ing" and all the mistletoe-ing, retreat to your cavernous lair and dive into Varien.
Azedia - Requiem For The New World
By: Allegra Dimperio
If you know anything about music history, the term “requiem” brings to mind the haunting compositions for the Mass of the Dead by the likes of Brahms, Mozart and Verdi. If you like bass more than Beethoven, the word at least reminds you of a messed up cult classic that is moving in its own gut wrenching way. British dubstep trio AZEDIA is giving the word a new reference point in the form of “Requiem For The New World,” a poignant saga of a track that offers more hope for a rebirth of consciousness than remorse for the apocalypse that wasn’t.
The requiem begins with the words of spiritual master Barry Long, who invites the listener to “Come with me into eternity.” While a full listen to the track may not grant eternal life, it at the very least proves to be the aural equivalent of a religious experience: mournful violin leads a choir and orchestra in a sweeping introduction that is joined by the drums of a bassline, moments of electric guitar and more words of spiritual guidance.
More of a symphony or spiritual sermon than merely a song, if you’re looking for a drop-laden dubstep track you won’t find it here. But if you’re intrigued by a track that sounds more arranged than mastered, more suited to a rite than a rave, AZEDIA’s “alchemical symphonic dubstep” requiem delivers a truly mind-opening musical experience—maybe we are in a new world after all.
If you know anything about music history, the term “requiem” brings to mind the haunting compositions for the Mass of the Dead by the likes of Brahms, Mozart and Verdi. If you like bass more than Beethoven, the word at least reminds you of a messed up cult classic that is moving in its own gut wrenching way. British dubstep trio AZEDIA is giving the word a new reference point in the form of “Requiem For The New World,” a poignant saga of a track that offers more hope for a rebirth of consciousness than remorse for the apocalypse that wasn’t.
The requiem begins with the words of spiritual master Barry Long, who invites the listener to “Come with me into eternity.” While a full listen to the track may not grant eternal life, it at the very least proves to be the aural equivalent of a religious experience: mournful violin leads a choir and orchestra in a sweeping introduction that is joined by the drums of a bassline, moments of electric guitar and more words of spiritual guidance.
More of a symphony or spiritual sermon than merely a song, if you’re looking for a drop-laden dubstep track you won’t find it here. But if you’re intrigued by a track that sounds more arranged than mastered, more suited to a rite than a rave, AZEDIA’s “alchemical symphonic dubstep” requiem delivers a truly mind-opening musical experience—maybe we are in a new world after all.
Greensleeves (The Coop Remix)
By: Dan Dicker
The holidays are a time of giving, fuzzy feelings, dreamy landscapes of white snow, and eggnog-fueled decision making. These are the things that come to mind while listening to Chicago-based livetronica act The Coop's remix of the classic holiday standard, "Greensleeves." The band lulls you in with a chilled-out downtempo beat that lays the foundation for the classic melodic theme. Guitarist Danny Biggins highlights this movement with an octave-effected guitar riff that soars above the tinkling piano of Joe Re and the lush synchopated beats of bassist/producer Cason Trager and drummer Jake Barinholtz. After the band runs through the melody, the track out of nowhere descends into pure bass madness, then launches into a full rock assault that smacks of Trans-Siberian Orchestra on ecstasy. It truly is a soundtrack to the season of giving. Speaking of the season of giving, The Coop is handing out this track for free download.
The holidays are a time of giving, fuzzy feelings, dreamy landscapes of white snow, and eggnog-fueled decision making. These are the things that come to mind while listening to Chicago-based livetronica act The Coop's remix of the classic holiday standard, "Greensleeves." The band lulls you in with a chilled-out downtempo beat that lays the foundation for the classic melodic theme. Guitarist Danny Biggins highlights this movement with an octave-effected guitar riff that soars above the tinkling piano of Joe Re and the lush synchopated beats of bassist/producer Cason Trager and drummer Jake Barinholtz. After the band runs through the melody, the track out of nowhere descends into pure bass madness, then launches into a full rock assault that smacks of Trans-Siberian Orchestra on ecstasy. It truly is a soundtrack to the season of giving. Speaking of the season of giving, The Coop is handing out this track for free download.
